Importance of Talking

Every person has some type of emotional baggage they have to carry around with them. Sethe, and Paul D's traumas are especially heavy. They have both attempted processing their hurt in different ways. Sethe isn't as strict about letting her old life seep into her new one. Paul D's method is to pack it away and never take it out again. Although during a few select conversations with Sethe, we see him opening up that pain a little bit. Opening up becomes easier for him because he is with someone who was there, or was related to some of the harder moments of his life. Sethe and Paul D. were both slaves in their past. Even though they were split up for a while, they can still relate to each other. Therefore, Paul D and Sethe use each other to acknowledge their pasts. Obviously, this is not a pleasurable experience but it is crucial that they have taken the time to confront what they've been hiding from. Beloved also helps Sethe remember her past. At some points, this is beneficial for Sethe, but it is scary to know what she is capable of when her past gets too close. Overall, because of the degree of their horribles traumas from the past, it's not always beneficial to constantly have those experiences on their mind and talk about them. On the other hand, talking/storytelling is an extremely important act for these characters.